Talk about a complete shift in momentum. Down 0-2 in the series, the Milwaukee Bucks pulled out an ugly win against the Brooklyn Nets in Game 3 to keep their hopes alive. Then, an ankle injury to Kyrie Irving in Game 4 helped them even up the series and dramatically swing things in their favor heading into Tuesday’s Game 5. As we prepare for this exciting matchup, let’s discuss which players to consider for your DraftKings Showdown entries.
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Brooklyn Nets vs. Milwaukee Bucks
SHOWDOWN STRATEGY
Captain’s Pick
Kevin Durant ($18,000 CP): Durant is the last healthy player among the Nets’ star trio that they had hoped would carry them to a title, although James Harden (hamstring) may have a sliver of hope to play Tuesday after being upgraded from out to doubtful. However, they will at least play Game 5 without Irving, and if Harden does take the floor, he could be extremely limited. Durant has already scored at least 50.5 DKFP in all four games of this series and should again have an extremely high floor, making him an ideal option for the Captain’s spot.
EDITOR’S NOTE: James Harden (hamstring) will be available to play in tonight’s game vs. the Bucks, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Giannis Antetokounmpo ($17,700 CP): While he hasn’t been quite as good as Durant, Giannis has also done plenty of damage in this series, scoring at least 53 DKFP three times. This series looked bleak for the Bucks when they were down 0-2, but the combination of two big wins at home and the Nets’ injuries have them in a prime spot to advance. Look for Giannis to continue to be aggressive on the offensive end in this game to try and help his team gain the lead in this series.
UTIL Plays
Khris Middleton ($9,800): After two horrible shooting performances to start this series, Middleton shot a combined 47.5 percent from the field the last two games. That’s more like what we’ve come to expect from him given that he shot 47.6 percent from the field during the regular season. He also had a total of 19 rebounds and nine assists in those two games, helping him score 56.8 and 44.0 DKFP, respectively. As far as the secondary options behind Durant and Giannis go, Middleton might be the most appealing target.
Bruce Brown ($6,200): The Nets are going to need increased playing time and scoring from Brown in this game. He’s shown that he can be productive when given added opportunities, averaging 13.0 points, 8.8 rebounds and 1.2 steals across 11 games during the regular season in which he played at least 30 minutes. He’s played at least 25 minutes two times in this series, scoring 27.0 and 35.3 DKFP, respectively. With Irving now out, he should at least approach 30 minutes in this contest.
Jeff Green ($4,000): Green suffered a foot injury in the first round against the Celtics that caused him to miss six straight games. He was a key member of the Nets’ supporting cast during the regular season, averaging 11.0 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.5 three-pointers across 27 minutes per game. He jumped right back into his usual role in Game 5, logging 27 minutes in a Nets loss. With all of their injuries, Green could see added scoring opportunities, making him a potential bargain at such a cheap salary.
Fades
Brook Lopez ($7,600): Lopez has a significant size advantage in this series, which has helped him grab 11 rebounds in both of the last two games. However, after scoring 19 points in Game 1, he’s scored a combined 19 points over the last three games. He only averaged 12.3 points on a career-low 9.1 shot attempts per game during the regular season, so he could continue to provide muted scoring numbers in this matchup.
The Outcome
While the series shifting back to Brooklyn should help the Nets, they are in a tough spot here without Irving and Harden doubtful. If they are going to win this game, they’ll likely have to do it on the defensive end. However, with Middleton turning things around and Giannis continuing to dominate, look for the Bucks to earn their third straight victory.
Final Score: Bucks 109, Nets 104
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